Number-displaying device for automobiles.



W. FALKE.

NUMBER DISPLAYING DEVICE POR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 9, 1912.

1,083,813. Patented Jan.6,1914.

7 llgll UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM FALKE, OF ITHACA, NEBRASKA.

NUMBER-DISPLAYING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To all whom it may fonce/m Be it known that I, WILLIAM FALKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Ithaca, in the county of Saunders and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Number-Displaying Devices for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to number displaying devices for automobiles, the object in view being to provide a combined tail lamp and registry number indicator adapted for use both by daylight and at night, the arrangement being such that the registration or license number will be visible equally at night or in the day time by a slight shift in one of the parts.

lith the above and other objects in viev, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended` In the drawings: Figure l is a rear elevation of an automobile, showing the improved lamp and number indicator attached thereto. F ig. 2 is a horizontal section through the lamp on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the slide detached.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a lamp case which is shown as of elongated form, in order that the registration or license number may appear clearly thereon of suitable size. This lamp is adapted to be attached to the rear of an automobile, and to take the place of the original tail light, or said lamp may be used as a number displaying device solely, in conjunction with the ordinary tail light. The lamp case is made of sufficient size and proportions to enable an illuminating means, either oil or electric, to be placed therein, said means being shown at 2. The rear wall of the lamp case is provided with a number of windows 3 which may be in the form of glass covered apertures of suitable size to enable the registration or license number to be displayed through the same. Arranged Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 9, 1812.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 724,894.

within the rear wall of the lamp is a slide 4, the same being mounted between suitable guides 5, and provided with a spring catch G adapted to hold said slide in either one of two positions. The slide has represented on the face. thereof one set of registration numerals 7 for day use, and another set of numerals, indicated at 8, for night use. The numerals 8 are cut through the slide 4, after the manner of an ordinary stencil plate, so that the rays of light may be transmitted through the same, thereby obtaining the display of such numerals at night time. The other numerals 7 are simply printed or represented in any way on thel face of the slide Il, and are adapted for daylight display.

By reference to F ig. 3, it will be seen that the two sets of numerals are arranged to alternate with each other, so that under either adjustment of the slide, the same registration or license numerals will appear before o-r in line with the windows 3.

In the day time, it will, of course, be understood that the burner is not lighted, and that the slide is moved by hand so as to display the numerals 7 through the windows 3. After night fall, the burner islighted, and the slide is shifted in the opposite direction, so as to bring the numerals 8 into line with the openings 3, this being all the adjustment required.

The perforate and mperforate portions of the lamp case are so arranged with relation to the two sets of numerals on the slide that while one set of numerals is visible through the openings, the other set is concealed behind the imperforate portions of the wall between and at opposite sides of the openings. The slide is shifted longitudinally back and forth by hand to bring one or the other set of numerals into line with the openings in the rear wall of the casing.

What is claimed is:

A lamp for registered vehicles, comprising a lamp case having a series of display openings in one wall thereof and imperforate numeral concealing portions at opposite sides of said openings, and a slide movable behind said Wall and across said openings and embodying two sets of identica-l registration numerals movable into and out of line With said openings and imperforate portions, so that one set is concealed when the 5 other set is visible, one set of numerals being discernible by day light and the other set beingtrans'parent for display at night.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM FALKE.

Witnesses NORA WALTER, ADOLPH FALKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 1 

